Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
The ATP made during glycolysis is generated by which of the following processes?
A
Photophosphorylation
B
Substrate-level phosphorylation
C
Oxidative phosphorylation
D
Chemiosmosis
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context of glycolysis: Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH in the process. It occurs in the cytoplasm and does not require oxygen.
Review the types of phosphorylation: There are three main types of phosphorylation in biology: substrate-level phosphorylation, oxidative phosphorylation, and photophosphorylation. Substrate-level phosphorylation involves the direct transfer of a phosphate group to ADP from a phosphorylated intermediate, while oxidative phosphorylation and photophosphorylation involve electron transport chains and chemiosmosis.
Identify the mechanism of ATP production in glycolysis: During glycolysis, ATP is produced directly when a phosphate group is transferred from a high-energy intermediate (such as 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate or phosphoenolpyruvate) to ADP. This process is known as substrate-level phosphorylation.
Eliminate incorrect options: Photophosphorylation occurs in photosynthesis, not glycolysis. Oxidative phosphorylation and chemiosmosis are processes associated with the electron transport chain in cellular respiration, which happens in the mitochondria, not during glycolysis.
Conclude that the ATP made during glycolysis is generated by substrate-level phosphorylation, as it involves the direct enzymatic transfer of a phosphate group to ADP without the involvement of an electron transport chain or light energy.